Roosters v South Sydney
Ron Coote Cup – first leg
Friday 13 March 8:00pm
Sydney Football Stadium
Congratulations Alex Johnston!
The celebrated South Sydney winger, a Souths junior from La Parouse, Dux of Endeavour Sports High, is now the leading try scorer in NRL history.
This report will mainly be about Alex Johnston.
The Roosters were the better team following the break in play after thousands of delirious fans celebrated the moment on field, much to the disproval of Wayne Bennett.
Roosters veteran recruit Daley Cherry-Evans showed all his experience, leadership and calmness under pressure with a deft 79th minute kick into the in-goal to set up the winning try.
The Roosters have now won five of the last six encounters between the two neighbouring clubs.
Unfortunately, South Sydney lacked composure and leadership at vital times when the game was still in the balance late. Latrell failed to find touch from a kick when Souths had the momentum. Then there is Cody. A Roosters supporter remarked to me on Saturday night: ‘Cody must have really stretchy skin, it’s so easy to get under it, and it happens every time we play Souths!’
For whatever reasons, Cody’s temperament has, seemingly, never been addressed. For this South Sydney football club member, ‘angry Cody’ has been a source of disappointment and frustration. Many say, ‘Oh, that’s Cody being competitive!’
Give me strength! If Cody was a schoolboy, a coach, more than likely a teacher, would provide this feedback: ‘Pull your head in son, or you will be in the Bs next week.’
The Clive Churchill-George Piggins-Mario Fenech most inspirational play:
This week must be Alex Johnston!
The statue has already been unveiled at the Heffron centre.
The moment fans stormed the field was described by Nick Campton on ABC online as ‘pure humanity’.
Campton then described the record breaking try this way:
‘As quickly as Johnston ran away from the Roosters cover defence following some excellent lead-up work from David Fifita and Latrell Mitchell, a writhing mass of delirious humanity engulfed him.’
The Rampling brothers-Ian Roberts-Les Davidson tackle of the match:
Tallis Duncan put a bone rattling hit on Roosters second rower Siua Wong. Tedseco took a quick tap and shovelled the ball left to Wong. Duncan put an enormous hit on Wong from side on. Tedesco being the captain-referee that he is, in similar vein to Cameron Smith, pointed to something in the tackle. Referee Adam Gee saw nothing, and it was play on.
The Phil Blake chip n chase best attacking moment:
See above, the pure humanity moment. Fifita and Latrell were good in the lead up.
South Sydney now moves on to play the Tigers, fresh off a Leichhardt Oval win over the Cowboys, in Gosford.
Full time: Roosters 26 defeated South Sydney 18
South Sydney team list: Gray, Johnston, Latrell, Wighton, Graham, Cody, Sullivan, Tetola, Garlick, Koloamatangi, Fifita, Aitken, Murray (captain), bench: Mamouzelos, Duncan, Hubner, Keppie.
South Sydney points: tries: (3) Johnston 30’ & 40’, Graham 69’; goals: Latrell 3/3 conversions.
Half time: Roosters 12-6
Crowd: 41, 424
Referee: Adam Gee
Penalties: Roosters 6-5
Highlights
NRL Highlights: Roosters v Rabbitohs – Round 2 | NRL on Nine
Press conference
“Massive monkey off my back” Johnston relieved to finally break record | Souths press conference
2026 Rabbit in the Vineyard Player of the Year points:
3: Johnston, 2 Murray, 1 Koloamatangi
Progressive: 3 Johnston & Cody, 2 Latrell & Murray, 1 Fifita & Koloamatangi
Honour roll: 2023-2024 Cameron Murray, 2025 Jye Gray
South Sydney full weekend results:
NSW Cup Roosters 30 d South Sydney 18
U/19 Lisa Fiaola Cup Parramatta 22 d South Sydney 20
U/17 Tarsha Gale Cup Cup Parramatta 66 d South Sydney 0
U/21 Jersey Flegg Cup South Sydney 40 d Roosters 22
U/19 SG Ball Cup South Sydney 44 d Parramatta 10
U/17 Harold Matts South Sydney 30 d Manly 10
Round 3 program:
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Bethany Barossa Valley 2021 Cabernet Merlot
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
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About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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RITV, I predicted that it would be Round 5 at the latest before you uttered ‘GMS’ – you only lasted 2! But deservedly so as the Bunnies looked like they got caught in the spotlight after the record fell whereas the Roosters just rose and rose to the challenge before the cool and calm of DCE and Teddy iced it.
Can Luai get under Cody’s skin too? (Love that ‘stretchy skin’ image.)
IJH
Will Luai get under Cody’s skin? Quite possibly!
For all of Bennett’s well publicised ‘man management’ skills – and he loves Cody & Latrell, apparently – this to me is a failure of many coaches – no one has managed Cody’s temperament – no one has said ‘mate, keep doing this & you are out’
Cameron Murray – the captain with a rather different temperament to Cody – surely must shake his head in disbelief?
CMON THE MATILDAS!